Temperature-regulator.



G. R. BURLEW.

TEMPERATURE REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV, 26, 1912.

1,1 18,328. PatentdNov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY U. R. BURLEW. TEMPERATURE REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED 11011.26, 1912.

WITNESSES sTArEsPATEu OFFICE.

CHARLES a. BuRL'nw, on YoNKERs, NEW YORK.

rnnrnm'rm-nneunaron My invention relates to 7 temperature regu- I lators and it has special reference to such as embody means for automatically ad ustmg dampers, valves, ventilators, and similar devices to regulate the supply of heat or cold in accordance with variations in temperature, in any given room or chamber.

The object of my invention is to provide a temperature regulator of the character above indicated that shall be simple in construction, reliable in operation and sensitive to relatively small variations in temperature.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation of an operating motor and a regulator which are supported on' a frame.

and are members of the system of my invention, certain of the parts being broken away to more fully disclose the construction. Fig. 2 is a partially sectional plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3

and 4 are respectively a sectional end ele-.

ration and a front elevation of athermostat and controller which also form part of my invention, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic "iew including the electric circuit connections of a complete system arranged in accordance with my invention and includ-. ing the apparatus illustrated in the preceding figures. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view-corresponding to Fig. 5, of a modified arrangementwhich also embodies my invention.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Regulator and motmn-Referringto Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the structure here shown comprises a supportin member having side frames lQand 11 WlllCll. are secured together by cross ties 12 and 13 at its lower corner s, an'integral cross strip 14 near the upper right-hand corner,..and the frame of an electric motor 15 which is supported near its upper left-hand corner; a regulator 30, an. electro-magnet 40, andsuitable gearing Specification of Letters Patent.

interposed between the motor and the regulator.

A worm gear 16 is secured to the motor shaft and meshes with a worm wheel 17 which is secured to a shaftlS. The shaft is rotatably supported in theside frames 10 and 11 and carries a pair of spur gears 19 and 20 in addition to the worm wheel." 7

A shaft 21 is rotatably supported in the frames 10 and 11 substantially parallel with the shaft 18 and carries a crank lever beyond the frame 10, and-a gear wheel 23 which meshes with the gear 19 between the frames.

The regulator 30 comprises a shallow cylindrical box 31 of insulating material, which is secured to the side frame 11 and has a cover disk 32, a sleeve or quill 33 which is rotatably mounted in the box and in the side frame 11 and surrounds the end of the shaft 21, a plurality of contact pins 34:, a radial arm 35, extending outwardly from thesleeve 33 and secured thereto, and a contact disk 36.

The contact pins 3% are arranged substantially in the circumference of a circle and are mounted in the cover disk 32 concentric with the shaft 21 and the sleeve 33. The outer ends of the pins are enlarged to limit their inward movement, and a plurality of springs 37 are attached to the inner surface of the disk 32 and are secured to the inner ends cf the pins 3 1-.

The contact disk 36 is secured to the end of the shaft 21 which extends beyond the disk 32 and the sleeve 33, and holds the pins 34 in an intermediate position in opposition to the springs 37 which tend to force them outwardly.

v Patented Nov. 24, 1914. i Applicatio n fi1ed.November 26, 1912. Serial No. 733,575. I

The arm 35 is relatively thin and slides over the inner surface of the disk 36. When it rotates with the'sleeve 33 it successively engages the outer ends of the pins 31 and temporarily separates them from the disk 36. Inorder to reduce the resistanceto the roe A gear wheel 24 is secured to the inner end of the sleeve 33 and is operatively connected to the gear 20 by an intermediate idler gear 25 WhlCll is mounted on a pin 26. The

arrangementof parts is such that the rotation of the shaft 18 produces a simultaneous site directions.

The disk 36 and the arm are providedwith insulating plugs 38 and 39 respectively which are so placed as to successively engage the heads of the contact pins as the disk and arm are rotated.

The gear ratio is such as to rotate the disk and arm at the same speed in opposite directions, and the insulating plugs 38 and 39 interrupt the electric circuits which are otherwise established between the pins which they engage and the disk as herein after more fully. pointed out. From the foregoing it is evident that when the motor is in operation it produces a rotation or" the crank arm 22 as well as a simultaneous rotation of the disk and arm in opposite directions. 1

Electro-magmt.-The electro-magnet 40 comprises a stationary core member 41 which is secured to the cross piece 14, coils 42, and an armature 43. The armature is mounted on a lever a l which is pivotally supported on a stationary shaft 45 and is adapted to actuate a contact member of a motor starting switch 51, the end of the lever being bent at right angles and provided with an insulating tip 66 to engage the contact member. I

Thermostat and controllerr loei erring to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the thermostat here shown comprises a drum or ber 60, a plurality of tubes 61 communicating therewith, a corrugated diaphragm 62 constituting one wall of the drum, a sh et metal disk or follower 63 outside of diaphragm and adjacent to it, a cap 6% which is screw-threaded to engage a threaded-annular extension 65 0i the drum, a stud 66 secured to the disk 63, an adjusting nut 67,,an index 67*, a spring 68, a graduated dial 69, andan automatically opera controller 70. Y

The spring 68 surrounds the and an inwardly extending annular tion 71 of the cap 64. and presses inwardl disk 63. The pressure of the 'beadjusted by turning the 67 vary the position of the disk 63 and thus adjusting the volume of the chamber comprising the drum 60 and the tubes 61. The pressure of the spring may also be adjusted by turning the cap 64- and thus reducing the distance between the disk 63 and the wall of the cap against whichthe spring presses. The chamber 60 is provided with an outlet projection 72 which is normally sealed by ascrew-cap 73.

The controller comprises a cylindrical box 75 of insulating material, to the outer surface or" which a plurality of contact seg- 37 on the ments-76 individually marked 1 to 9 inclusive are secured in the arc of a circle as shown in Fig. 4. Within the box is a flat tened tube 77 of resilient material which is bent into the arc of a circle and connnunicates at one endwith one of the tubes 61 as shown in Fig. 3. It is closed at the opposite end and is mechanically connected to a gear segment 78 by a lever 79. The gear segment meshes with a gear 80which is se cured to the same shaft 81 as a contact arm 82 which is located outside of the box and is adapted to engage the contact segments 76. The controller is constructed on the principle' of a pressure gage except that the index finger instead of indicating the pressure makes electrical contact with one of a ser1es of stationary contact-members. The thermostat may be filled with any suitable gas or liquid which expands and contracts under variations in temperature, such for example, as alcohol.

Heate7=.While my invention is not limited to any particular service, it is particularly well adapted for use with .a heater such as is found in residences and other buildings. I have consequently illustrated my invention in connection with a heater of this character in Fig. 5 of the drawings to which reference may now be had. The heater here shown is provided with a draft regulator 91 and a check damper 92 which are respectively connected to the lever 22 by cords or chains 93 and 94 which preferably include turn buckles 95 in order that their lengths may be independently adjusted. The arrangement of parts is such that when the motor drives the shaft 21 and the crank lever 22 is rotated, the draft regulator is first raised and the check damper lowered and the draft regulator then lowered and the check damper raised, or vice versa.v

System-Referring particularly to the diagram of 5, the operation of and the circuit connections for the system are as follows :Assuming that the parts occupy the positions 11. which they are shown, if

tact arm 82 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction. Assuming that this is the case and that the contact arm has moved into engagement with the stationary contact memher 3, an electric circuit is then established from a terminal 100 of a battery 99, through a conductor 101, contact arm 82, the contact member 3, a conductor 102, the two pins 34: which are marked 3, 3, the contact disk 36, a stationary contact finger 103, a conductor 104;, coils 42 f the "electrdmagnet, and a conductor 105 to the opposite terminal 106 of the battery.

The electro-magnet 49, when energized, attracts its armature 43 and raises the lever 44, which-in turn moves the contact arm 50 1 of the motor starting switch 51 into engagement with a stationary contact member 52.

' A motor circuit is now established from a terminal 110 oi a battery 111 through a conductor 112, a field Winding 113 of the motor 15, armature 1'14, conductor 115, the

switch 51, and a conductor 116 to the opposite terminal 117 of the battery.

The batteries 99 and 111 are intended to be illustrative of any suitable sources of energy and a singlesource may be substituted the crank lever 22 and turns the disk 36- and the arm in opposite directions. The rotation of the motor continues until the insulating plugs 38 and 39 come into engagement with the contact pins marked- 3, 3,

when the circuit of the electro-magnetO is interrupted. At this point the lever 14 falls to the position shownin Fig. 5 permitting the contact arm 50 of the motor starting switch to drop first into engagement with a contact member 53 and then intoits open circuit position. When in contact with the member 53 a local circuit is established from one terminal of the motor armature through a conductor 118, the switch arm 50 and the conductor 115 to the opposite terminal of the armature..- The motor armature is thus practically short-circuited and tends to regenerate a current which stops the motor very suddenly in a well known manner. The parts now remain at rest until some further variation in the temperature of the room produces another adjustment of the contact arm 82. When the insulating plugs of the contact disk 36 and the arm 35 respectively engage the pins 3, 3, the crank lever 22 occupies such a position that the draft regulator 91 is more nearly closed and the check damper 92 more widely opened. The fire in the heater will-thus be properly controlled in accordance with the room temperature variations. 7 If the arm 82 is moved into contact with the member 1 by reason of a'further increase in temperature, the draft regulator 91 will be closed entirely and the damper 92 will be opened to a maximum extent. On the other hand, if the temperature of the room is lowered the arm 82 will move in the opposite direction by reason of a reduction of pressure in the thermostat, and if the temperature continues to fall the arm -will-finally engage the contact member 9, producing such a rotation of the motor as to bring .both insulating plugs 38 and 39 opposite the pin 9. In this position the check draft 92 will be closed and the draft regulator 91 will be opened to a maximum extent.

Ordinarily if the heater or other heat generator is easily governed the variations in the room temperature will be relatively small and the contact arm will not usually move farther than into contact with the contact 4 or the contact 6.

g It is of course immaterial whether the regulation is effected by first closing and then opening, one or the other of the furnace regulators, to a different angle, so long as they are quickly adjusted to the desired position. The fact that the motor is never reversed but always-rotates in the same di-,

rection, materially simplifies the control apparatus and renders its operation more satisfactory and reliable. I

Modification-fill; is possible to avoid the use of two sets of contact for the inter-. mediate contact n embersof the regulator, by so connecting the disk 36 to, the crank shaft 21 that an oscillatory instead of a rotary movement of the'disk is produced by a rotative movement of the shaft. This ar rangement is illustrated in Fig. *6 to which reference may now be. had.

Assuming that a single set of contact pins arranged substantially in the arc of a circle are substituted for the double set of the previous figures and that the contact disk is arranged as before except that it is connected to the shaft 21 by a crank arm 129, and a connecting rod 121 which is pivotally con nected to a crank pin 122 on the disk, the

pin being spaced from the center of the disk by a distance somewhat greater than the length of the crank arm 120. An oscillatory movement of the disk is thus produced and any suitable means for securing this 1 movement may be employed. The operationof the system is the same as that of Fig. 5 except that inasmuch as'only one set of contact pins is utilized, there is no neces-' sity for the arm 35 and its insulating plug 39, since the insulating plug 38 of the disk always engages'some one of the single set of contact pins.

Variations in the size and arrangement of the parts and in the circuit connections, the

s stem illustrated may be efiected within t e spirit and-scope of my invention.

What ,1 claimis: I

1. A system of temperature regulation comprising a heater having a draft increaser and a check damper, a rotatable crank arm operatively connected to said parts and arranged to-adjust the two simultaneously in opposite directions an electric driving motor for the 'crank'arm, a regulater connected to the crank arm and .com'- prising a plurality of relatively stationary contact members, a rotatable disk contact member cooperating therewith and havingan insulating plug adapted to engage the "con'tactmembers 1n succession as the disk is rotated, and a remote controller responsive I to temperature-variations and cooperating with the regulator forieompleting and interrupting the motor circuit to actuate the draft increaserand the check damper in a plurality of steps.

2. A 'systemj of temperature regulation comprising a heater-having a draft increaser and a check damper, a rotatable crank arm operatively connected to said parts and arranged to adjust the two simul-.

Y t'aneously-in opposite directions, an electric driving motor for. the crank arm, .a regulator connected to the crank arm and comprising-a pluralityof relatively stationary contact members, a rotatable disk contact member cooperating therewith and having an insulating plug adapted to engage the a is rotated, a motor starting switch, electrocontact members in succession as the disk 7 responsive means for actuating the switch,

and a remote controller responsive to temperature variations and cooperating vwith the regulator for governing the electro-re sponsive meansto actuate the draft in creaser and the check damper in a plurality of steps,

3, A. system of temperature regulation comprising a he'ater having a draft increaser a check damper, a rotatable crank operatively connected to said ranged to adjust the two-simulparts and 1' taneousiy in opposite d1rect1ons,an electric aliases driving motor for the crank arm, a regulator connected to the crank arm and comprising a plurality of relatively stationary contact members, a rotatable disk contact member cooperating therewith and havingv an insulating plug adapted to engage the contact members in succession as the disk is rotated, a motor starting switch, an electire-magnet for actuating the switch, a

source of electrieenergy, and a remote controller responsive to temperature variations and adapted to cooperate with the regulator for completing a circuit from said source through said electro magnet and said regulator,'whereby'the motor is started and its motion continued until the regulator occupies a predetermined position.

t. A system of temperature regulationcomprising a heater, having a draft increaser, and a check damper, a rotatable crank arm operatively connected to the draft 'increaser and the check damper, and arranged to adjust the two simultaneously in oppo'site directions, a driving motor for the crank arm, a regulator operatively connected to the crank arm for governing the motor circuit, a thermostat, having a pres sure responsive member, a rotatable contact arm operatively connected to the pressure responsive member, and a plurality of stationary contacts engaged by the arm for 

